APPRENTICESHIPS
to get in touch. As Around
Ealing went to press 102
pledges had been made
already.
Councillor Steve Hynes,
the council’s cabinet member
for prosperity, skills and
employment, said: “The
apprenticeship programme
is an increasingly popular
option for young people
choosing what to do when
they leave school. I am
grateful to all the local
businesses that have joined
the council again this year to
help pledge apprenticeship
places for young people to
learn skills and on-the-job
training while getting paid.”
‘I’D NOT BE WHERE I
AM TODAY’
Mikey Barnes started at
the Clocktower Café as
an apprentice chef in
2014. After completing
his year’s apprenticeship
and doing extremely
well, he has secured a
permanent position in the
kitchen of a restaurant in
Brentford. In fact, Mikey
has been nominated for
the Apprentice of the
Year category in the West
London Business Awards.
“If it wasn’t for the
Clocktower I’d not be where I am
today,” he said. “I had no real
experience whatsoever and I’ve learned
a lot. I’ve learned skills and how to
cook, how to run a kitchen – and even
how to handle stress and pressure. If
anyone was thinking of going for an
apprenticeship I’d really recommend it.”
His employer at the café, Morna,
added: “I’m really proud of how Mikey
Watch
Find out more about how apprenticeships have worked at Clocktower Café
Look up Ealing Council channel on YouTube
has come on leaps and bounds. He
cycles 12 miles to work, and is always
working on his skills when he’s not
actually working, and comes into work
in the morning with new ideas. He has
become a real team player.
“It can be hard work sometimes, but
adding an apprentice brings diversity
to the team and gives them all the
opportunity to manage and train the
apprentice themselves, which is very
good for their development, too.
Everyone then enjoys seeing someone
flourish and do well.
“I really believe small businesses
have a responsibility to society,
as all individuals do. You have the
opportunity to make a difference to
a young person’s life and, therefore,
have an obligation to at least consider
taking it.”
AWARD WINNERS
Mikey was highly commended at
this year’s Ealing Apprenticeship
Network annual awards. Read more
at www.ealing.gov.uk/news
MORE INFO
■
Call 020 8825 6234
■
Email apprenticeships@
ealing.gov.uk
■
Visit www.ealing.gov.uk/
apprenticeships
■
Twitter #Ealing100in100
What is an
apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is designed
for people who are starting out in
a new skills area, often for young
people who are starting out in the
world of work. It combines a job with
training and takes a minimum of a
year to complete. Statistics show that
for every £1 spent on an apprentice,
an employer reaps £18 in return.
For all the facts, read this article
around ealing
Winter 2015/16
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